The Core collection launches with four pieces: a short-sleeve jersey in men’s and women’s versions; bibs for men; and shorts for women. The collection looks great, with an aesthetic that is simple, even for Rapha: All pieces are one single color, with subtle tone-on-tone logos.

The Core Collection features minimalist branding

Matt Phillips

Rapha’s head of design, Alex Valdman, describes Core: “It’s about the quality, the details, the function, the fit, the fabric, and that’s where the pared-back nature of this collection comes from. But you have to create texture too, otherwise it will be cheap, plain, and boring. That was the real challenge—how do you take something that is supposed to be so toned-down but still make it very interesting?”

Core is not inexpensive gear, but it is less expensive for Rapha. Jerseys for men and women are $115, significantly cheaper than the company’s staple products which run between $140 and $210. Bib shorts for men are $150, where Rapha’s premium shorts are $230 to $290 (the rain-focused Shadow bibs are $385).

Men's and women's jerseys are offered in Rapha's Hi-Vis Pink

Rapha

Only shorts ($120, Rapha’s Women’s Classic Short is $205) are offered for women. When asked why a bib option wasn’t available, Rapha’s North American communications director Chris DiStefano cited the collection's size and target market as factors. “One of the goals for Core was to have a small number of items in the collection and the feedback that the design team got for this segment was that regular shorts would be the most appealing to the widest range of current and new customers.”

Bicycling received a selection of men’s and women’s Core products ahead of the launch. Though the women’s products were sequestered for a photo shoot (look for a review here when our art department releases the products to testers), both myself and fellow staff member Ron Koch were able to ride in the men’s jersey and bib shorts. Here are our initial impressions.

Plush ribbed fabric lines the neck and arm openings, and the back of the zipper

Matt Phillips

Core Jersey, $115
If you’re familiar with Rapha’s line, the Core jersey is like a mash-up of the Classic Jersey and Pro Team jerseys. Both Ron (6’, 167 lbs, wearing size large) and I (5’8”, 157, wearing size medium) thought it is a snug-ish fit, stretchy and conforming,which allows unrestricted movement. It feels smooth and comfortable against the skin, and the sleeve openings, neck, and zipper are all backed with a plush ribbed material. Overall, the textile is thicker/heavier than other similar jerseys and feels robust.

It’s well cut for the riding position: It's shorter in front with little excess material bunching around the belly and chest when in the drops. Following the current trend, the sleeves are cut a bit longer, which we both liked. The sleeve fit is relaxed: They don’t squeeze the bicep, and the sleeve opening is generous and doesn’t pinch. I found the sleeve material bunched when reaching for the bars as though they were positioned more for standing around in a coffee shop and less for on the bike.

The jersey is cut lower in the front and doesn't bunch when in a riding postion

Rapha

The jersey wicks well, though in my experience it dries somewhat slowly and left me feeling a bit clammy at the start of descents—I’d recommend wearing it with a good base layer.

Ron thought the pockets were well-positioned; I found they sat a bit high and were tricky to access. This could be attributable to our height and jersey size difference. We agreed the pockets were well supported and could carry a heavy load without much sag. The zippered pocket is not waterproof/resistant, but is large enough to fit my iPhone 6 in a case.

A silicone gripper keeps the jersey in place. The same gripper material is found in the shorts.

Matt Phillips

Core Bib Shorts $150
Like the jersey, the shorts feel like they’re made from a heavier-weight material which feels like it should be durable and long lasting.

Upon pulling the bibs on, we both immediately noticed the chamois folded in the middle and gave us significant wedgies. However, it’s only a problem off the bike; once on the bike the chamois offers generous sit-bone padding, but doesn’t feel overly bulky. This is the same chamois as the one in the Rapha Classic Bib Short, which has earned an Editors’ Choice award in the past, so we know it’s a good one.

The Core Bib shorts use the same chamois as Rapha's more expensive Classic Bib

Rapha

Ron commented, “The chamois seems to be shifted a touch further forward than a lot of others. I like this; it seems to reward a low aggressive position on the bike.” I agree. It also suggests that though this is less-expensive Rapha, the company is still targeting the more committed, higher-mileage rider.

Ron and I both though the leg length was Goldilocks—not too long, not too short. The bib straps are soft and wide (about 50mm), with comfortable edges and generous vertical stretch. The body of the shorts have medium compression, and we both felt they fit true to size, though on the snugger end of the spectrum. In the Rapha universe, the fit in the legs and butt is more like the Pro-Team short than the Classic Bib short. The leg gripper was invisible (in a good way), but did its gripping thing well.

A Part of Hearst Digital Media
Bicycling participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites.